I'm looking for a good seedling supplier that can ship to eastern US (maryland specifically, if there are any local sources) at reasonable prices and with good quality. I want to try a Doug Philips style fused trunk so I need quite a few. I'll probably start with a maple variety, but I'm not sure yet.

Any recommendations for online suppliers or wholesalers would be appreciated.

Trident maples work well for this style and I can recommend Matt Ouwinga at Kaede bonsai-en as probably the best source. Matty will treat you right. I've gotten more seedlings of more varieties from him then anywhere else and they are outstanding stock.

Bill Valavanis does bare root seedlings every year too but he probably won't have his spring catalog ready until he returns from Japan. I have acquired good stock from him as well. I know Matt has seedlings available right now if you want to make a move before the weight of winter sets in.

drgonzo wrote:Trident maples work well for this style and I can recommend Matt Ouwinga at Kaede bonsai-en as probably the best source. Matty will treat you right. I've gotten more seedlings of more varieties from him then anywhere else and they are outstanding stock.

Jay - Thanks for the reminder. I just completed my order for the Mikawa origin, Japanese Black Pine. He sells out of these most years, as he sells out of the Japanese White Pines also. Years of fun ahead.

Leo Schordje wrote: I just completed my order for the Mikawa origin, Japanese Black Pine. He sells out of these most years, as he sells out of the Japanese White Pines also. Years of fun ahead.

I did a 30 tree trident forest this last spring with seedlings from both Matt and Bill V. Matts seedlings had exceptional fall coloring and nice individual leaf variation. I know his seed source in Japan is quite good. Fall turned many of the trees in the group beautiful pink I was very impressed.

And I reminded myself that I should give him a shout to see if there are what would now be TWO year old Hornbeam seedlings left from last year.-Jay

I'm looking for a good seedling supplier that can ship to eastern US (maryland specifically, if there are any local sources) at reasonable prices and with good quality. I want to try a Doug Philips style fused trunk so I need quite a few. I'll probably start with a maple variety, but I'm not sure yet.

Any recommendations for online suppliers or wholesalers would be appreciated.

www.musserforests.com sells bare root seedlings of a whole host of trees, including trident maples. I suspect their price per 5, 10 or a dozen will be much less than any sold by anyone else.

_________________Jim Lewis - lewisjk@windstream.net - Western NC - People, when Columbus discovered this country, it was plumb full of nuts and berries. And I'm right here to tell you the berries are just about all gone. Uncle Dave Macon, old-time country musician

JimLewis wrote:www.musserforests.com sells bare root seedlings of a whole host of trees, including trident maples. I suspect their price per 5, 10 or a dozen will be much less than any sold by anyone else.

Musser doesn't sell Tridents. Indeed the variety of their offerings has diminished significantly over just the past few years (sign of the times I suppose)

It's tempting and sometimes necessary (if you're after something specific) to order seedlings from large "landscape" suppliers, as I have done in the past. However the quality of the stock can be quite variable and the roots are usually poor, requiring a tap root trim and at least a year in good soil before being workable. If you do order from one of these suppliers be sure to order for spring delivery not fall, as that way you will receive the current years spring dug trees and not holdovers from the previous year.

On the other hand. Ordering from a bonsai specialist such as Matt Ouwinga or Bret Walston, who has grown out the stock in bonsai soil, will provide you with good rootage from the start. Matt also offers a volume discount and usually throws in several (more then you can use) extras for you on top of whatever you order in case some don't 'make it'.